Traffic signal switch



Sept'. 1, 1931. c. H. BlsSELL TRAFFIC SIGNAL SWITCH 19, 1928 4 Sheets-Sheet l Filed Sept.

I. N VEN TOR.

www fw ATToRNEYs,

Sept. 1, 1931-. c. H. BISSELL TRAFFIC SIGNAL SWITCH 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Sept.

NVENTOR.

Amber idx* www +5.

Xia B+W veeh\\\+5. f

A TTORNEYS.

Septl; 1931. c. H. Bissau. 1,821,000

TRAFFIC S IGNAL SWITCH Filed Sept. 19, 1928 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 T1Red .JfS Nev E .NW *Re .1 S.

Gveen EA-W green M+S.

lINVENTOR.

@gawdfm A TT ORNE YS` "Sept l, 1931.

C. H. BISSELL TRAFFIC S IGNAL SWITCH Filed Sept. 19, 192B 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 I N VEN TOR. Y

A TTORNEYS,

Patented Sept. 1, 1931 UNITED STATES CARL H. BIssELL, or SYRACUSE, NEW YORK, AssIeNoR. 'ro cRoUsE-ximns coivirANY.

or snrluiciusn,y NEW YORK, A CORPORATION or NEW Yonizjv y TRAFFIC SIGNAL SWITCH Application filed September 19, 1388. Serial No. 307,022.

This invention relates `to electric switches particularly to tr-afic signal switches for oontrolli-ng the stop and go signals on main and intersecting streets and also n Warning sig- 5 nal, and it has for its object aparticularly .simple and eilicien-t means for cutting out the intermediate Warningsignal before, for instance, the go signal on either street while displaying the intermediate warning signal vIl) prior to the stop signal on the streets. Other objects will appear throughout the specification.

The invention consists in the novel features and in the combinations and constructions l145 hereinafter set forth and claimed.

In describing this invention, reference is had to the accompanying drawings in which like characters designate corresponding parts in all the views.

1 `l0 Figure 1 is a plan view of the switch.

- Figure 2 is a sectional View, partly in elevation, taken on line 2-2, Figure 1.

Figure 8 is an inverted plan View, partly vin section. .3,5 Figure 4 is a diagrammatic View illustrating the wiring of the switch.

Figures 5, 6,7, 8, 9 and 10 are diagrammatic views illustrating the operation of the switch in different positions.

This switch comprises generally, a series of contacts, a movable switch arm having a conductor movable along the series to bridge any two adjacent contacts in the series and in a ydirection at an angle to the former movementand cut-ont means operated by the movement of the switch arm for shifting the conductor in an angular direction out of contact with one or more of the intermediate contacts during the movement of the switch arm in one direction along the series land shifting said conductor in an angular direction out of engagement with another inter-mediate contact during the movement of the switch arm in the reverse direction.

As applied to a trailic signalling system, the series of contacts comprises first and second pairs of contacts A and B and two intcrmedia-te contacts I, the contacts of pair A being designated 1, 2 and those of pair B, 5D 3, 4 and thc contacts of the pair I as 5, 6.

The contact 5 is paired with the contact 2 yof the pair A and the contacto with the com tact L of the pair B. The switcharm has a conductor as 8 arranged toy bridge succes.L sively the contacts of the pairs, the switch arm being connected in a feed Vcircuitfand the contacts 1, 2 of the pair A beingcomiected to the go signals on an intersecting street as an east and west street, while the Contact 2 is conncctedto the stop si nals on..a-mainor north and south street. likewise the con? tact 3 of the pair of contacts B is connected to the go signals on the main or north and south street; while the contact 5 of the intermediate pair of contacts I is connected to the warning or amber signal on an east and west street whilethe contact (i is connected'rto the warning or amber signal on the north and south street. The cut-.out means is operated. dur ing the `movement of the switch armto cut ont the contact .6 or amber signal preceding the display of the go signalen the nortliand south street during movement of the lswitch Yarm in one direction and to cut out theinter'rv mediate contact 5 to prevent the display of the warning signal or amberlpreceding the go signal on the east and weststreetl- The signals are usually lamped with colored lens', the go signals being green (G), the stopsignals, red (R) and the warning signalsam ber (A). f .i In the illustrated embodiment of my inventiointhe contactsare'shown as arranged in .an arc-shaped series and the switch arm` 7 is movable about an axis at thev center ofthe series. There are also additional contacts which complete a circular series.

The additional contacts 9 and 10 are conf nected respectively to the cont-acts 42. and 4 of the pairs A and B by suitable juni ers so that when the roller 8 is in contact wit these contacts 9, 10 the stop or red signalsoll. both streets are connected in the circuit.A Additional contactsl 11 and 12 `are connected by suitable wires to an automatic tim@ 95 ing device, and the roller .or conductorS of the switch arm 7 when in engagementwith the contacts 11 and 12 isalso engagedwith the contact 13 connected in the' feed circuit. lVhen ythe switch varm is swung into position fm so that the roller or conductor bridges the contacts 11 and 12, the signals associated with the switch are operated automatically by an automatic timing device independently of the switch. The electric connection by which this is brought about forms no part of this invention. The contact 13 extends through the base 0f the switch and is spring pressed against the end of the roller.

14 is a contact or more strictly speaking a terminal or binding device to which the feed wire 15 is connected, and this terminal 14 is connected by a flexible conductor or wire 14 to the switch arm. There is an additional idle contact I16 completing the circular series. The switch arm conductor or roller is moved into engagement with the idle contact 16 and the binding post contact 14 when the switch is off, Figure 10.

When the parts are in the position shown in Figure 4, the conductor 8 of the switch arm is bridging the contacts 11 and 12 so that the current comes from the source through the wire 15, terminal 14, conductor 14 through the switch arm and out through three branches connected to all 'signals through an automatic timing switch not shown.v

A suitable stop 17 limits the movement of the switch arm in the position assumed when the signals are worked automatically.

The contacts are mounted in circular series on a suitable'base 18 of insulation, each of them being a cylindrical posthaving a stem extending through the base 18 on which nuts 19 thread against the washers overlying the top face of the base, each contact also having a wire binding screw 20 on one side thereof. The nuts 19 and the stems on which they thread are binding devices for the branch 'circuits leading from the automatic timing switch not shown. Each terminal or Contact is preferably tubular in form and provided with a head at one end, and the head is provided with a screw 21 extending through the hole in saidhead, the head of the screw bearing against the head of the terminal.

The switch arm 7 is mounted upon one end of a shaft 25 which is mounted in a bearing formed in a block or casting 26 mounted on the base 18 and as here shown the shaft is provided with a carriage 27 at one end on which the switch armis Vmounted and with a transversekey 28 at its other end extending diametrically across the end of the bearing in the block 26. s

A cap 29 is mounted on the top of the block and houses the key end of the shaft, the cap having an opening 29a for a suitable wrench or crank handle 30. This handle 30 has a socket for receiving the end of the shaft and the key and also a radial lug 31 for extending through a notch 31a in the ange of the cap around the opening, the lug passing under the flange for-locking the handle in position so that the handle can only be removed and replaced when the switch arm is in automatic position, that is, when the roller 8 of the switch arm is in contact with the contacts 11 and 12.

The carriage 27 and the key hold the shaft from endwise movement. The switch arm 7 includes a frame or box 32 of insulation and a side piece 32 also of insulation on the frame or box and a metal spring pressed plunger' 33 movable in the box and having a forked head 34, the spring 35 encircling the plunger tending to thrust the saine outwardly. The roller is also formed with a circumferential groove, yand the forked end 34 is arranged in the groove astride the portion of the roller forniing the bottom of the groove. The roller also formed with an axle 3G at one end working in a slot 37 in the side 32'LL of the frame of the switch arm. The switch arm is secured to the carriage in any suitable manner as by screws 38. T he plunger extends rearwardly to the outside of the box where it is provided with a binding screw 39 connected by the wire 14 to the binding post 14 which is connected to the feed wire 15. The plunger therefore moves radially relatively to the switch arm for the purpose of permitting' the roller to ratchet over the contacts.

The handle 31 is provided with a suitable pointer movable over a scale on a face plate 40 provided on the top of the cap 29 for indicating the position of the switch arm, these indications being AUTO for indicating automatic position of the switch; RNS and GEV grouped together at one point meaning red, north and south; green, east and west; AMB, E'W grouped together indicating ainber, cast and west; AMBNS indicating aml ber, north and south, GNSv and RElV indicating green north and south and red, east and west,:all red and off.

The means .for cutting out the amber or yellow prior to the display of the go signal in either direction but permitting the display of amber prior to the change from go to stop in either direction comprises a cut-out member 41 consisting of'an arm pivotally mounted cn the shaft 25 between the carriage 27 and the base block, this arm having a shield 41*l at its outer end of such length as to cover or cut-out one or the other of the contacts 5 and 6 in accordance with the directionl of movement of the switch arm 7, the shield heing' an arc-shaped piece of insulation mounted on the arm 4l and being provided with cam shaped ends 42, 43 arranged in the path of the roller. The arm 41 is mounted to rock through a small varc and its arc of movement is limited by stops 44` 45 on the base.

Assuming that the parts are in the position shown in Figure 5, with the roller bridging the contacts 1, 2 so that red is presented north and south and green, east and west, the operator shifts the handle in a clockwise direc- Lnanooo tion and the switch arm 7 the roller to bridge the contacts I2 and 5 so that the red signals north and. south continue to be momentarily displayed and the green signals, east and west are cut out and the amber presented east and West is cut in the circuit by reason of the Contact l5 and the roller 8. At

' this point,fFigure 6, thevroiler engages .me

cam end 42 ofthe cnt-out member 41 and during continued movement of the switch handle, the roller 8 is pressed radially inwardly out of engagement with the contacts and yduring this movement the cutoutmember moves out of engagement with the stop 44 into engagement with the stoV 45 and the roller moves along the' shield an is held out of *contact with all contacts, thus skipping Aamber Acontact 6, Figure 7. The roller 8 then during continued movement, passes off the Vcam end 43 of the cut-out arm into engagement with contacts 4., 3, Figure 8, so that the .green-or go signals are presented north and south and the red orstop signals, east and west. During lthe reverse movement of the switch arm, the roller 8 moves out of engagement with the contact 3, thus cutting out the green, north and south and maintaining momentarily the red, east and west. Then the roller 8 of the switch arm encounters the cam 43 of the shield and the shield is pushed in a clockwise direction ahead of the roller and the roller now engages the contacts 4 and 6, Figure 9, so that the amber is presented north and south preliminary to a change of signals from green to red, north and south.

During continued movement, the roller is moved inwardly by reason of its engagement with the cam 43 and the fact that the arm 41 comes against the stop 44 and thus skips the amber contact 5 so that no amber is presented before the go signals east and west.

Continued movement brings the switch arm and the roller 8 back to its original position bridging the contacts 1 and 2. Thus the cutout arm automatically cuts out the amber signal before the green signal in either direction and permits the amber or warning signal to be displayed before the stop signals or red, in both directions.

Movement of the switch arm anti-clockwise beyond the contacts 3, 4 into engagement with t-he contacts 9, 10 cuts in all the red or stop signals, Figure 10, this being desirable when it is necessary to stop all traflic in cases of emergency. Continued movement from this position brings the roller 8 into the dotted line positions, Figure 10, when the switch is off.

When the roller 8 is in engagement with the contacts 10 and 16, the red or stop signal is displayed east and west only, and when, in engagement with contacts 16 and 14, the switch is in its off position.

It is obvious that any particular contact or any number of contacts may be cut out by changing the positions of the stops 44 and 45 or by carrying the length of the shield 41.

What I claim is:

1. In a switch, the combination of a series of contacts, a movable switch arm having a conductor movable along the series yto bridge any two adjacent contacts in the series and also shiftable at an angle to the former movement, and means operated by the movement of the switch arm to shift the conductor in the angular direction out of contact with one4 of the vintermediate contacts during movement of the switch arm in one direction a'long the series and to shift said conductor out of engagement with another intermediate contact during the movement of the `switch `arm in the reverse direction.

2. In a switch, the combination of a series of contacts, a movable switch arm having a conductor movable along the series to bridge `any two adjacent contacts in the series and shiftable in a direction at anamgle to the former movement out of contact with the terminals, and means operated by the movement of the switch arm to shift the kconductor in the angular direction out of contact with one of the intermediate contacts during movement .of the switch arm in one direction-along the series vand to shift said conductor out of engagement with another intermediate contact lduring'the movement of the switch arm in the reverse direction, said means compris ing a cam arranged in the path of the conductor and movable a limited distance therewith, and stops for limiting the movement of the cam with the conductor and the switch arm.

3. In a switch, the combination vof asseries of contacts, a movable switch arm having a conductor movable along the series to bridge any two 'adjacent contacts in the vseries and shiftable in a direction 'at an angle to the former movement out of contact with the terminals, and means operated bythe movement of the switch arm to shift the conductor out of contact with one of the Vintermediate vcontacts during movement of `the switch .arm in one direction ailong the series and .to shift said conductor out of engagement with another intermediate contact during the movement of the switch arm in the reverse direction, said means comprising a. cam arranged to shield one ofthe intermediate contacts and expose the other .to the switch conductor and having cam surfaces at the ends of contacts, a movable switch arm having a conductor movable to bridge any two adjacent contacts in theseries, a member provided with fa shield arranged to lcover one of the intermediate contacts and uncover' another f during the movement of the switch arm in one direction and to cover and uncover' the intermediate contacts in the reverse order during the movement of the switch arm in the reverse direction along .the series of contact-s, said shield having inclined faces at its ends ar? ranged in the path of the switch conductor, and stops for limiting the movement of the shield in opposite directions with the switch arm. f

5. In a switch, the combination of a series of arc-shaped contactsconnectcd in different branch circuits, a switch arm movable about the center of lthe axis of the series and having a conductor arranged to bridge any two adjacent contacts in the series, said conductor being connected in a feed circnit and mounted to moveV radially relatively to the axis of the switch arm and means operated by the movement of the switch arm to shift the conductor radially ont of contact with one ofthe intermediate contacts during tne m ove-l ment of the switch arm in one direction along the series and to shift said conductor radially out of engagement with another intermediate Contact during the movement of the switch arm in the reverse direction along the series. 6. In aI switch, the combination ot arc.- shaped contacts, a movable switch armihaving a. conductor movable to bridge any two adjacent contacts in the series and also movable relatively to'said arm in a radial direction and a cam movable about the axis orp the switch arm and arranged in the path of the conductor to shiftA it radially during the movement of the switch arm along the intermediate contacts, and stops for limiting the movement of the cam with the switch arm.

- 7*. In a switch, the combination of arcshaped` contacts,a movable. switch arm having a conductor movable to bridge any two adjacent contacts in the series and also movable relatively to said arm in a radial direction and a cam movable about the axis of the switch arm and arranged in the path of the conductor to shift it radially during the movement of the switch arm along the intermediate contacts, the cam being in the form of a shield loca-ted to cover one ot' the intermediate contacts and formed with inclined faces at the ends thereof, said ends being arranged in the path of the switch conductor and theshield being arranged to cover one of the intermediate contacts while exposing another to the conductor during the movement of the switch conductor along the series of contacts, and shiftable by the switch arm in one direction during movement in one direction to cover one intermediate contact and in the other direction to cover the other intei-mediate contact during movement of the switch arm in the reverse direction. 8. In `a switch', the combination of a series of contacts comprising first'and second pairs of' cont-acts, and two intermediate contacts paired respectively with one of the contacts of the first and second pairs, a movable switch arm having a conductor movable to brid e successively the contacts of the pairs, t e switch arm being connected in a feed circuit and the contacts connected in different branch circuits, and means for permitting the conductor to bridge one of the contacts of the first pair and one of the intermediate contacts during movement of the switch arm from the first pair toward the second pair of contacts and cutting out the other intermediate contact during such movement and for permitting the conductor to bridge one ofthe cont-acts of the second pair and the other intermediate contact and to cut out the first intermediate contact during movement of vthe switch arm from the second pair of contacts toward the first pair. l,

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto signed my name, at Syracuse, in the county of Onondaga, and State of New York, this 17th day ot' September, 1928. I

CARL H. BISSELL. 

